Effects of particle density and fluid properties on mono-dispersed granular flows in a rotating drum

Abstract

Due to their simple geometric configuration and involved rich physics, rotating drums have been widely used to elaborate granular flow dynamics, which is of significant importance in many scientific and engineering applications. This study both numerically and experimentally investigates dry and wet mono-dispersed granular flows in a rotating drum, concentrating on the effects of relative densities, ρs−ρf, and rotating speeds, ω. In our numerical model, a continuum approach based on the two-phase flow and μI theory is adopted, with all material parameters calibrated from experimental measurements. It is found that, in the rolling and cascading regimes, the dynamic angle of repose and the flow region depth are linearly correlated with the modified Froude number, Fr*, introducing the relative density. At the pore scale, flow mobility can be characterized by the excess pore pressure, pf. To quantify the variance of the local pf, it is specifically nondimensionalized as a pore pressure number, K, and then manifested as a function of porosity, 1−ϕs. We find K(ϕs) approximately follow the same manner as the Kozeny–Carman equation, K∝ ϕs2/1−ϕs3. Furthermore, we present the applicability of the length-scale-based rheology model developed by Ge et al. [“Unifying length-scale-based rheology of dense suspensions,” Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, L012302 (2024)], which combines all the related time scales in one dimensionless number G, and a power law between G and 1−ϕs/ϕc is confirmed. This work sheds new lights not only on the rigidity of implementing continuum simulations for two-phase granular flows, but also on optimizing rotating drums related engineering applications and understanding their underlying mechanisms.